Carton with folding spout



April 23, 1957 Filed NOV. 17, 1953 P. J. GRAYBILL CARTON WITH FOLDINGSPOUT 4 Shets-Sheet 1 1971 14775012- pazzzj gf g zzz Haws 7194s.

P. J. GRAYBILL 2,789,747

A ril 23, 1957 CARTON WITH FOLDING SPOUT 4 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Nov. 17,

THE 7 6 WM #W April 23, 1957 P. J. GRAYBILL 2,789,747

CARTON WITH FOLDING SPOUT Filed Nov. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FAQ-53United tates Patent CARTON WITH FOLDING SPOUT Paul J. Graybill, NewHaven, Conn.

Application November 17, 1953, Serial No. 392,559

Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to spout-equipped cartons ingeneral, and to cartons with spouts of the folding type in particular.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide ona carton a folding spout which has improved characteristics incomparison to those of previous folding spouts.

Thus, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide on acarton a folding spout which, when closed, effectively seals the cartonfrom such extraneous matter as dust, moisture or vermin even after thespout has been opened and closed repeatedly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide on a carton afolding spout which is constructed so as to remain of its own accord inany one of an infinite number of adjustable positions substantially between its closed and normally fully open positions, thereby to permitready pouring of the contents from the carton at a controlled variablerate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide on a carton afolding spout of the aforementioned adjustable opening which is soconstructed that the same will in any position within its adjustablerange be tubular or near-tubular to such an extent as to permit pouringof the contents from the carton at the desired rate to which the spoutopening is adjusted even if the carton is way over-tilted for thedesired flow rate.

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nermost flap with a perceptible snap action into seating engagement withthe ledge and also into interlock with the shoulder when the spout istapped or otherwise forced into its quick-closure position, and whichresists opening of the spout until force is applied thereto which, whileslightin magnitude, must nevertheless be suflicient to release theinterlocked surface of the innermost side flap from the shoulder withanother perceptible snap action, thereby not only giving assurance tothe user of the carton that the latter is satisfactorily closed when thementioned closure snap action is perceived, but also preventingunauthorized self-opening of the spout under the weight of the contentsof the carton if the latter is placed or held in partly or completelyinverted disposition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide on a carton afolding spout of which the innermost fold of the innermost folded sidefiap is divided by a score line or crease into complemental parts whichon closure and opening of the spout are, under the compulsion of theremaining folded parts of the spout, swung similarly as the leaves of ahinge to effect orderly partial collapse and recovery, rather thanrandom bending and unbending, of this innermost fold, thereby to achievesmooth and predetermined folding and unfolding of the spout as well asexercise control over the force required for opening and closing thespout.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

Inthe accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carton with a folding spout embodyingthe present invention, the spout being shown in its full-closureposition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton with its spoutshown in a quick-closure position;

Another object of the present invention is to provide on a carton afolding spout of which the opposite side flaps or walls are so arrangedthat one side fiap or wall will gradually interfold between the bottomwall of the spout and the other folding side flap or wall when the spoutis being closed from its normally open position, and will graduallyunfold from between the bottom and the other unfolding side flap whenthe spout is being opened, thereby to achieve the tubular formation ofthe spout to the aforementioned extent and, by virtue of the ensuingfriction between the side flaps when partly infolded, alsoself-retention of the spout in any of its partially open positionswithin the aforementioned adjustable range.

It is another object of the present invention to provide on a carton afolding spout of which the bottom and opposite side flaps are sodimensioned that the aforementioned interfolded side flap will, in aquick-closure position of the spout in which both side flaps are as yetpartly unfolded beneath the bottom and the latter still extends somewhataway from the carton, fit completely, though somewhat loosely, the gapbetween the bottom and other side flap and close the carton for allpractical intents and purposes, thereby to achieve ready andinstantaneous closure of the carton on merely tapping the spout in anyof its open positions in order to compel it into the above-mentionedquick-closure position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aspout-equipped carton with a ledge on which the innermost folded sideflap rests, and which terminates in a shoulder over which springs theadjacent edge of the in- Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective viewsof the carton with its spout shown in different partly open I positions;Fig. 5 is another fragmentary perspective view of the carton with itsspout shown in fully open position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a blank from which the carton and itsspout are formed;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the car-ton with its spout in fully openposition;

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are fragmentary sections through the carton andits spout as taken on the lines 8-8, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11, respectively,of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the car-ton with the spout thereof in itsfull-closure position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through, the carton andspout as taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary end view of the carton and spout as seen in thedirection of the arrow 18 in Fig. 17;

Figs. 19 and 20 are fragmentary sections through the carton and spout astaken on the lines 19-19 and 20-20, respectively, of Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary section through the carton and spout as takenon the line 21-21 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary side view of the carton with itsspo'ut inpartly open position as in Fig. 3; r ,Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view ofthe carton with its.

Patented Apr. 23, 1957' Fig: 25-is-.afragmentary section; through thecarton.

and. spoutjastaken on. the line 25-25. of Fig. 23.;

Fig, 26' is a fragmentary side view of the carton with itsspout in.another partly open. position; I Fig; 27 is a fragmentary view of thecarton with its spout in the same .partly open position as in Fig. 26,but asf -seen, from the opposite side;

Fig: 28'- is a fragmentary end view of the carton and spout-as'seen inthe direction of the arrow 28 in Fig. 26; Fig; 29' is a fragmentarysection through the carton andspoutas-ta'ken on the line 2929 of Fig.26;

30f.is:-atop plan view of'a carton and spout embodying the presentinvention in a modified manner; and Fig. 31. is'a fragmentary view of ablank from which the-modified carton and spout of Fig. 30 are formed.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs; 1" tothereof,the reference-numeral 2 designates a carton'for holding goods which areusually packaged or maybe packaged in this manner. the dispensation ofits contents provided with a spout 4 of-lthe folding type. The carton,which may be of any conventional construction, comprises opposite sidewalls 6 and8, opposite ends walls 10 and 12, a bottom wall lZ4* (-Figs'.1 and 5), and a top wall 16 covering the permanent end-closure portionof the dispensing-end of said carton. Provided in the top wall 16 is adischarge opening'18'which may be opened and closed by the folding spout4 in a manner described hereinafter.

In the example shown, all parts of the carton 2, including the foldingspout 4, are blanked in a single piece 20 (Fig. 6) from suitable cartonmaterial, and the blank 20is-suitably scored and cut so as to befoldable into the required finished form. The cut lines in the blank 20are indicated by the reference numeral 21. Further provided on thecarton 2 beneath the top wall 16 thereof is a ledge 22 (Figs. 4 and 5)on which the spout 4 is adapted to rest when folded into its fullyclosed position shown in Figs; 1 and 13 or into its other closedposition shown in Figs. 2 and 21.

For-initially forming or setting up the carton 2, it may briefly beexplained that the carton blank 20 (Pig. 6) is folded along theprescored longitudinal lines or creases 26, 28 and 30 so as to bring theopposite side walls 6, 8 and opposite end walls 10, 12 into therectangula'r disposition which they assume in the carton formation; Aside tab extension 32 on the side wall6 of the blank 20 may next befolded about the prescored line or crease 34 for its attachment, bycementing for instance, to the adjacent end wall 10 in order permanentlyto retain the side and end walls of the carton in their rectangulardisposition. The bottom' wall 14 of the blank 20 may next be folded intoclosure relation with the side and end walls of the carton and bepermanently secureditheretoby suitable cemented tab extensions or VanBuren Ears on the bottom wall ofwhich one is shown: at 36 in Fig. 1. Theledge 22 may next be folded inwardly about the coextensive part of theprescored transverse line or crease 38 (Fig. 6) so as to span the sidewalls 6 and 8, the ledge preferably having a foldable side tab extension40 which may be cemented against the side wall 8. of the carton in orderto secure the ledge in place therein: (Figs, 10 and .11). tho-dischargeopening 18 and between the .top wall 16 and ledge 22 apocket ortuck-slot 42 (Figs. 8 and 9) for a purpose to be described, the blank.20 is provided with a spacer. flap 44 which, on being folded inwardlyabout the coextensive part or" the prescored line 38, will overlapthe-mountedledge-ZZ. Next, the top wall 16 is folded-inwardly'ab'out-the coextensive part of the same prescored line 38 andbroughtinto overlappingrelation with the spacer flap 44; the top 4 wall.16 beingpreferably The carton 2 is for In order to. provide. near.

H provided with foldable side and end tab extensions 46 and 48 which mayconvenientlybe cemented to the adjacent side and end walls 6 and 10,respectively, for permanently securing the top wall in place (Fig. 1)and holding the spacer flap 4-4 in snug interposition between the topwall and the ledge 22 (Fig. 10).

The spout 4, which in its=open position is channelshaped (Fig, 5), is inthe present instance formed by opposite side flaps 50 and 52 and abottom flap 54 which are continuous with each. other along the foldlines or creases 26 and 28, and also continuous with the adjacent cartonindividual hinge connectionsbetween these flaps and the adjacent cartonwalls so as to permit inwardfolds ing of the former: intocoveringrelation with theidischarge opening .18 in the carton.

covering relation with the discharge opening 18 in the carton, the.parts ofthe fold lines 26 and 28 which are coextensive with these flapsalso serve in the setup con.-

dition of the. carton as hinge connections between these In" orderthat'the'side' flaps 5.0.and 52.0f the spout; 4 may thus fold inwardlybeneath the bottom flap 54, the;

former mustfurthermore be scored or creased at 56 and 58, respectively,inthe usual diagonal fashion so that they may'fold on themselves when.the bottom flap 54 is turned. toward the-top: wall 16 ofthe carton.(Figs. 12 to '16).

It is;one of;the.objectives of'thc present invention to. effect closureof the spouti4 and; hence, of thecarton when th'e'side flaps 5.0 and 520f the spout are still partly unfolded and its bottom flap 54 is stillsome distance from the topwall 16 of the carton (Figs. land 17 to 19).In order to accomplish this, one of the side flaps, in thisinstance'the'side flapt52, is, on-closure of the spout 4 into theposit-iontshowrrjnFig-.2, causedto interfold between the bottom fi'ap54' and;the,other side flap, in this instance the flap 50, and thedimensions of these side flaps are such that the upper. folded side flapor wall 52 fills substantially the. entire gap between the lower foldedside flap 50 andthebottom flap 54.. Thus, in order that the .upperfoldedside flap 52 may, in the closure position ofthe spout in Fig. 2,substantially till the entire gap bc-- .tween the lower foldedside'fiap50 and the bottom flap 54, the. portions of'the'sidelflapsfitand'52 within which their respective foldlines 5.6 and 58 extenddiagonally are square and each of. their. dimensions, expressedinlengthandwidth. asindicated at l and w; respectively, in Figs. 8 and 9, issubstantially equal to the dimension .of the carton measured across thesidewalls 6 and 8 thereof. Further, since the .fold lin'e's.561and..5:8iextend diagonally of these square side flap portions, the latter willfold: completely upon themselveswhen thexspout isfclo'sed;

Orr-closing the:spout.4 from. its fully open position in Fig. 5 into theposition in Fig. 2, the side flap 52 will frictionally be resisted bythe other folding side flap 50 in its tendency to interfold between thelatter and the.

bottom .flap 54. This frictional resistance to the inter folding oftheiside flap- 52$ begins when both folding side flapsfit)? and52;;engaget-each: other (Fig. 4), andpersists substantially until theyreach the relativedisposition shown in Fig.2. Hence, it is within therelatively wide range of the interfolding action of the side flapSZsub-stantially fromthe position in Fig. 4 to thc'position in Fig. 2that the side and bottom flaps 50, 52 and'd of the spout define atubulardischarge.passage of infinitely variable cross seetionabareia.Moreover, .the; frictional resistance :encountieredbyithe. infoldingsideflap 52, on the other foldingside: flapritl-1isssufiiciently large toretain thespout in ln order to permit such inwardfolding. of the flaps5.0, 52. and 54 of the spout 4 into any of its infinite positions withinthe aforementioned range in which the same provides a tubular dischargepassage, and permit the discharge of the carton contents through thelatter without danger of self-opening of the spout beyond its adjustedposition. The considerable frictional resistance encountered by theinterfolding side flap 52 on the other side flap 50 may be appreciatedfrom the fact that the fold 60 of the side flap 52 is in any of theadjustable partly-open spout positions more or less bent from thepressure exerted thereagainst by the other side flap 50 at its fold line56. Thus, Figs. 26 to 29 show the spout in one of its infinite number ofpartly-open positions, and Fig. 29 clearly demonstrates the outwardbending of the fold 60 of the side flap 52 under the pressure exertedthereon by the other side flap 50 at its fold line 56. Although thefrictional resistance encountered by the unfolding side flap 52 on theother side flap 50 is sutficient to retain the spout in any of itsinfinite number of partlyopen discharge or pouring position-s asexplained, this frictional resistance is not so great as to preventclosure of the spout into the position shown in Fig. 2 on merely tappingor pushing the same into the latter position with a relatively lightforce.

The side flap 50 of the spout is, in the present instance, provided witha further fold line 64 which, as shown in Figs. 3, 25 and 29, permitsthe innermost fo ld 66 of the side flap 50 to hinge sufliciently toprevent permanent random bending of the side flap 50 or of the adjacentinterfolding side flap 52 under the pressure which they exert on eachother when the spout is being closed into its position shown in Fig. 2.Thus, the entire side flap 50 acts, by virtue of its fold lines 56 and64, as a multiple hinge which not only affords a ready control over themagnitude of the frictional resistance encountered by the interfoldingside flap 52 on the side flap 50, but also compels the side flap 52 tointerfold between the other side flap 5t) and the bottom flap 54, ascontemplated, when closing pressure is applied to the latter.

As already mentioned, the spout 4 and, hence, also the carton 2 are toall practical intents and purposes I closed when the former assumes theposition shown in Fig.

2, hereinafter called quick-closure position. Even if the carton shouldbe inverted with its spout lowermost, the contents of the carton willnot at all, or at worst only to a negligible extent, escape through thespout in its quickclosure position, for any opening of the spout fromthe latter position under the weight of the car-ton contents thereonwill be fully resisted by the considerable friction between the sideflaps 50 and 52 immediately on even slight unfolding of the latter fromthe quick-closure position of the spout. Figs. 2 and 17 to 21 show thespout 4 in its quick-closure position, and its truly closed condition inthis position is clearly demonstrated in Figs. 2, 19 and 21.

When the spout 4 is fully closed, i. e. when its bottom flap 54 isturned completely against the top wall 16 of the carton (Figs. 1 and 12to 16), the side flaps 5t) and 52 are completely folded upon themselvesbetween the ledge 22 and the bottom flap 54 (Figs. 13 and 15) and thespout 4 maybe retained in this position, hereinafter called full-closureposition, by tucking a preferably curved tab portion 70 of the bottomflap 54 into the previously described pocket or tuck-slot 42 between theledge 22 and the top wall 16 of the carton (Figs. 1, 12 and 13).

The interfolded side flap 52 is, on closure of the spout 4 from itsquick-closure position (Fig. 2) into its fullclosure position (Fig. 1)so tensioned by the folding side flap 50 and the inwardly turning bottomflap 5d that the spout will, on its release, immediately snap back ofits own accord into its quick-closure position, unless the tab portion70 of the bottom flap 54 is tucked into the pocket 42 in thefull-closure position of the spout (Fig. 13). Accordingly, theinterfolded side flap 52 will have a substantial press-fit between theother folded side flap 50 and the bottom flap 54 and form anexceptionally effective seal for the carton when the spout is held inits fullclosure position by the tucked-in tab portion 70 of the bottomflap 54. On the other hand, the quick-closure position of the spout(Fig. 2) is in most cases suflicient to close the carton and protect itscontents, and the spout may quickly be manipulated into itsquick-closure position on merely tapping the same at its bottom flap,and if the closing force exerted on the bottom flap, should carry thespout beyond its quick-closure position and even into its full-closureposition, the same will of its own accord snap back to its quick-closureposition as explained. Thus, the spout 4 and, hence, also the carton 2may for most purposes be satisfactorily closed, by merely tapping thespout quickly into or beyond its quick-closure position without anyfurther ado whatsoever.

Since in the instant formation of the blank 20 the interfolding sideflap 52 and the ledge 22 are separated by a mere cut line 21a (Fig. 6),it follows that the side flap 52 would in its interfolded condition befully within the confines of the discharge opening 18 in the top of thecarton if this flap were not made of increasing length toward the bottomfiap 54 which, in order to be insertable with its tab portion 70 intothe pocket 42, must be of greater length than the side flap 52 at theledge 22 (Figs. 8, 12 and 13). Further, the side flap 50, which becomesthe bottommost folded flap of the spout 4 either in its quick-closureposition or in its full-closure position, is of such over-all width(Figs. 5 and 9) that the same will rest with its bottommost fold 66 onthe ledge 22 (Figs. 13, 15 and 21).

Since in the instant formation of the blank 20 the bottommost fold 66 ofthe side flap 50 and the top wall 16 are separated by a mere cut line21b (Fig. 6), their adjacent edges '76 and 78, respectively, are alikeand are preferably curved as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so that thepreferably curved tab portion 70 of the bottom flap 54 may the moreeasily be tucked into the pocket 42 in the full-closure position of thespout 4 (Fig. 12). As indicated in Fig. 14, the curved edge 76 of thebottommost fold 66 of the side flap 50, which in either closure positionof the spout rests directly on the ledge 22, swings slightly away fromthe adjacent edge 78 of the top wall 16 of the carton when the spout isurged from its quickclosure position into its full-closure position.This is due to the fact that the bottommost fold 66 of the bottommostside flap 50 is the one which ofiers the least resistance to theinevitable slight relative shift of the side flaps 50 and 52 inconsequence of the tight interfolding of the side flap 52 between theother flaps 50 and 54 when the spout is fully closed, and it is thisrelative shift between the side flaps 5t and 52 which draws thebottommost fold 66 of the side flap 52 slightly away from the adjacentedge 78 of the top wall 16 of the carton in a swinging motion about thepoint p at which the side flap 5t) and the top wall 16 merge (Figs. 6and 14). When the spout is released in any position intermediate itsfull-closure and quick-closure positions, the same will quickly revertof its own accord into its quick-closure position, as explained, and inconsequence swing the bottommost fold 66 of the side flap 50 with itsedge 76 into abutting engagement with the adjacent edge or shoulder 78of the top wall 16 of the carton and thus yieldingly prevent opening ofthe spout from its quick-closure position. In folding the spout towardits quick closn-re position, the force with which the bottommost fold 66of the bottommost flap 50 is urged against the top wall 16 of the cartonis such that the fold 66 will springwith a readily perceptible snapaction from the top wall 16 onto the ledge 22 and thereafter recedethereon slightly away from the adjacent edge or shoulder 78 of the topwall when the spout is being folded beyond its quick-closure posi tion.Conversely, the force with which the edge 76 of the bottommost flap 50will, in the quick-closure position of the spout, engage the adjacentedge 78 of the top wall 16 of the-carton is such that the edge 7;6 will,on. opening *7 1 I the'spoutffrorn its quick-closure position,jjunip'from engagement withthe edge. or shoulder 78- with aperceptible snap.Accordingly, the .abutting pressure .between ithe adjacent edges 76and78ofthe spout flap t) and of the carton" wall 16 will, on openingthe. spout from. its quickclosure position, increase until the-edge 76of this spout flap jumps from engagement with the edge '78 of the cartonwall 16. In order thatthis increasing abutting pressure may notpermanently bend atrandorntthatportion80 of the bottommost fold '66 ofthe spout fiap'50 whichby virtue of this abutting pressure is subjectedto maximum bending stresses,zthe spout flap 50-is provided with "another,fold line. or crease '82 about which this maximum stressedrelease-flapSt) will hinge until it clears the edge 78,013 thecarton.wall'1'6 when the spout is being opened from its quick-closureposition (Figs. 3 and 22 to'24).

Fig. 30 shows a modified carton 2 with afolding spout 4 whichhas .alltheadvantages of the described carton 2 with itsfolding spout 4, butdistinguishes from the same lay providing for the extension of bothfolded side flaps 5t) and 52' into overlapping relation with the ledge22 when the spout is in its full-closure position, thereby further toenhance the sealing of the carton by the spout when the latter is in itsfully closed condition. To achieve this, the ledge portion 22 of theblank 20 from which the carton2' and spout 4 are formed is continuouswith tlie'end wall portion of the blank (Fig. 31) so that intheformation of the carton andspout the ledge 22' may be folded inwardly ofthe end wall 10' between the side walls 6' and 8' and into the confinesof the channel formed by the side and bottom flaps 5t), '52 and 54' ofthe spout adjacent the opposite end wall 12' and the side walls 6 and 8'(Fig. 30). The spacer flap 44, is then folded into superposed relationwith theledge 22, whereupon the top wall 16' is'folded over the spacerflap 44 and secured in place between the sidewalls 6' and8'. No furtherdescription of the set-up of the carton 2 and spout 4' from the blank20' is deemed necessary since the rest of its set-up is fully suggestedby thepreviously described set-up of the blank 20 into the carton 2 withits spout 4.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be con sidered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1 claim:

1. A carton made of foldable stock having a dispensing end, with aquadrangular discharge opening, said opening having articulatedthereabout on three sides, a movable folding spout, said spout comprisedof a substantially quadrangular bottom wall, its free end-terminating ina tab portion, .and two diagonally creased substantially quadrangularside-walls articulated to the sides of'said bottom-wall, said carton-endcomprised also ofa permanent end-closure portion articulated to part ofthe edges of the two carton side-walls and the edge of the adjacentcarton end-wall, said permanent end-closure portion extending inwardlyfrom said carton end-wall to its juncture with the spout side-walls,said permanent endclosure having a ledge member extending inwardlybeyond the juncture of at least one ofthe spoutside-walls thusostensibly protruding into said discharge opening, said spout adapted inone position to discharge the contents of said carton and in anotherposition to close said discharge opening, said spout side-walls being sodimensioned, adapted and disposed that when in said closed position theyare folded-inwardly each upon itself with at leastpart of'the outerterminal ends in onefldirection extended beyond the confinesofsaiddiseharge opening totoverlay said ledge, and-in the other directionto at leastabut each other above said ledge, saidpermanent end-closureportion having at'least partway across thereon a shoulder, saidshoulder. coincident with the edge of at .leastone of .isaid spoutside-walls'against which said side-wall abuts when spout is in saidclosed position; also said permanent end-closure portion'having atuckslot thereon, so disposed in its open position, to accommodate thetab portion of said spout bottom-wall; thus when spout is in said closedposition the terminal ends of said side-walls are positioned in acompressed condition, partly abutting said shoulder, between said ledgeand the tucked-in bottom wall of said spout, in a secured sift-proofclosure.

2. A carton made of foldable stock having a dispensing end, with aquadrangulardischarge opening, said opening having articulatedthereabout. on three sides, ,a movable folding spout, said spoutcomprised of asubstantially quadrangular bottom-wall, its free endterminating in'a tab portion, and two diagonally'creased substantiallyquadrangular side walls articulated to the sides of said bottom-wall,said carton-end comprised also of a permanent end-closureportionarticulated to part of the edges of the two carton side-walls andthe edge of the adjacent carton end-wall, said permanent endclosureportion extending inwardly from said canton endwall to its juncture withthe spout side-walls; said permanent end-closure portion also having aledge member extending inwardly beyond the juncture of at least one ofthe spout side-walls thus ostensiblyprotruding into said dischargeopening, said end-closure portion having a shoulder at least part wayacross thereon, and also a tuck-slot therein, said spout adaptedin one,open and secured, position to discharge the contents of said carton at acontrolled rate with said side-walls partially folded inwardly alongsaid diagonal creases in a bellows-like fold, abutting approximately attheir ap'exes and thus forming with said bottom-wall a V tubular funnelspout, said tubular formation being sustained by the stresses andpredisposition in said foldable stock to reclose, said spout alsoadapted in a secured quick-closure position with said side-walls beingfolded fully together closing said spout and completely closing saiddischarge opening, said spout side-walls beingdimensioned in onedirection completely interfolded, with internalstresses and apredisposition to unfold, the upper of said side-walls folded betweenthe folds of the lower side-walland the spout bottom-wall and the lowerof said side-walls folded between the upper side-wall andthe ledgemember, with at least the lower of said side-walls sodimensioned in theother direction that they extend beyond the confines of said dischargeopening and overlay said ledge, firmly abutting said shoulder on saidpermanent end-closure portion, said shoulder positioned to thus firmlyhold from unfolding said innermost side-wall and thence the completespout against said stresses in its completely interfolded quick-closureposition; said spout adapted alsoin a final full-closure position, withsaid side-walls fully collapsed along said diagonal creases andarticulations with at least the innermostsidc-wallsuperimposed upon saidledge and said bottom-wall superimposed onsaid side-walls and sodimensioned as to fully cover said side-walls and allowsaid end-tab tobe-positioned in said tuck-slot immediately adjacent thereto in saidpermanent end-closure portion, thus effecting-a completely collapsedspout and a secured. closure of-said discharge opening.

3. The carton and folding spout ofclaim 2 having the bottommost fold ofsaid lower side wall bisected into two triangular sectors by a creaseextending transersely from theouter terminal edge thereof to itsopposite apex, in one position said sectors to lie flatly against saidledge when said spout is in a closed position, and in another positiontounfold hinge-likewhen said spout is being opened, sa id first sector0,2136 resisted y Said upper side-wall into which said first sector mustbe forced to form an arc-like bend in order to unfold, this due to theupward support of said sector by said ledge; and also, in still anotherposition when said spout is open, said two sectors to assume a partiallyfolded condition due to the inherent folding tendency of said stock atsaid crease, thus fore-shortening their total width and positioning theapex of said lower side-walls inwardly and below the apex of theopposing upper sidewall thus insuring the proper interfolding of saidsidewalls when said spout bottom-wall is tapped or other- -wise forcedinwardly in closing said spout.

4. The carton and folding spout of claim 3 having a triangular releaseflap articulated to the terminal end of said lower side-wall, saidrelease flap having been formed from said side-wall by a creaseextending from near the outer end of the medial diagonal crease of saidside-wall to a point at least part way across and on said terminal end,said release flap in one position to release said lower side-wall fromsaid shoulder by unfolding hinge-like when the spout is being forcedopen.

5. A carton made of foldable stock having a dispensing end, with aquadrangular discharge opening, said opening having articulatedthereabout on three sides, a movable folding spout, said spout comprisedof a substantially quadrangular bottom-wall, and two diagonally creasedsubstantially quadrangular side-walls articulated to the sides of saidbottom-wall, said carton-end com- 'prised also of a permanentend-closure portion articu- *lated to part of the edges of the twocarton side-Wall's and the edge of the adjacent carton end-wall, saidperma- *nent end-closure portion extending inwardly from said cartonend-wall to its juncture with the spout side-walls; said permanentend-closure portion also having a ledge member extending inwardly beyondthe juncture of at 'least one of the spout side-walls thus ostensiblyprotruding into said discharge opening, said end-closure portion havinga shoulder at least part way across thereon, said spout adapted in one,open and secured, position to discharge the contents of said carton at acontrolled rate with said side-walls partially folded inwardly alongsaid diagonal creases in a bellows-like fold, abutting approximately attheir apexes and thus forming with said bottom-wall, a V tubular funnelspout, said tubular formation being sustained by the stresses andpredisposition in said foldable stock to reclose, said spout alsoadapted in a secured quick-closure position with said side-walls beingfolded fully together closing said spout and com- \pletely closing saiddischarge opening, said spout sidewalls being dimensioned in onedirection completely interfolded, with internal stresses and apredisposition to unfold, the upper of said side-walls folded betweenthe folds of the lower side-wall and the spout bottom-wall and the lowerof said side-walls folded between the upper side-wall and the ledgemember, with at least the lower of said side-walls so dimensioned in theother direction that it extends beyond the confines of said dischargeopening and overlays said ledge, firmly abutting said shoulder on saidpermanent end-closure portion, said shoulder positioned to thus firmlyhold from unfolding said innermost side-wall and thence the completespout against said stresses in its completely interfolded quick-closureposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,704,987 Marsh Mar. 12, 1929 2,077,341 Martin et al Apr. 13, 19372,205,068 Potter June 18, 1940 2,288,042 Spilman June 30, 1942 2,398,200V-an Voorhis Apr. 9, 1946 2,565,182 Maxon Aug. 21, 1951

